South Australia sets Friday decision on border bans

AN easing of South Australia’s hard border with Victoria is set to be signed off this week.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, the state’s COVID-19 co-ordinator, spoke after Tuesday’s meeting of the SA transition committee and said a meeting set for Friday would look at relaxing border restrictions with Victoria.

Mr Stevens declined to comment on whether the easing would mean home or hotel quarantine for travellers.

“It is only the real jurisdiction that has significant restrictions, so based on Victoria’s calm level of activity, which is excellent, we are hopeful we can make some positive decisions on Friday and make those announcements then,” he said.

“I won’t speculate on the date except to say we are listening to the health advice, we are looking at the implications for those decisions.

“(There is) a little bit more work (to be done) this week and the meeting on Friday should put us in a position in which we can make some specific announcements.”

Victoria recorded its 11th consecutive day without reported new coronavirus cases or deaths on Tuesday.

The hard border has been in place since July as a response to Victoria’s second wave of the coronavirus.

In March the South Australian Government closed its borders and required all people entering South Australia to isolate for 14 days after their arrival.